Dean's Teaching Fellowship Program

Applications for the 2015-2017 DTF are no longer being accepted. The call for applications for the 2016-18 DTF class will go out in November 2015.

Program Overview

The Dean's Teaching Fellowship program is directed by Ronald M. Epstein, MD, (Director) and Annette M. Medina-Walpole, MD, (Co-Director). It is a competitive two year program open to faculty at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry who are committed to academic careers. Generally, 3-5 fellows are selected annually. Fellows spend 15% of their time on the program which includes a 3 hour bi-weekly seminar series and completion of an educational project.

In this program fellows work closely with one another and education experts to:

Develop research skills and complete high-quality educational research

Implement novel educational interventions

Learn educational theory, teaching methods and curriculum development

Develop skills in educational leadership, faculty development and mentoring

The DTF Program is an endowed program with 2-year fellowships. Initially developed in the early 1990s to recognize faculty who made important contributions to medical education, the program was expanded in 2001 to provide a rigorous curriculum to further the development of the highly qualified faculty members who participate. Dr. Jules Cohen's visionary leadership created twelve named Teaching Scholars to honor. In 2011 the Dean's Teaching Fellowship was featured in an article in the Winter issue of Rochester Medicine. Click here for a link to the article. Current fellows include faculty from the Departments of Medicine, Oncology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Public Health Sciences and Urology.

DTF Educational Project

Each fellow undertakes an educational project expected to last two years and culminate in a publication or presentation at a national meeting. Projects may involve an educational innovation, new methods of assessment and/or research using new or existing data. See past DTF projects.

DTF Seminars

DTF seminars focus on different areas of educational theory, research methods, teaching methods, educational technology, curriculum design, assessment, faculty development, leadership, and career planning. The DTF endowment has allowed us to invite four or five visiting professors per year. The sessions consist of a 2 hour seminar on a medical education topic, with the final hour reserved for discussion of fellows' projects.

Stipend

A stipend of $13,000 is provided each year for salary relief (including benefits). This stipend only partially offsets the 15% time commitment, but it is expected that the fellow's department will ensure that the 15% time will be provided. Up to $3000 is available to each fellow annually to support research expenses and/or travel.

Criteria For Selection

Criteria for selection include:

The quality and potential impact of the proposed educational project.

The applicant’s commitment to medical education as part of his/her anticipated career trajectory.

The applicant’s willingness to serve as a master teacher and mentor for future fellows and other faculty members.

Identification of a suitable mentor for the project.

A letter of support from the applicant’s department chair for 15% FTE to be devoted to the program.